We’ve all read that famous disclaimer in the front of novels. “This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.” But is it really?
I can’t speak for other fiction writers, but I am here to admit freely that I base almost all my characters on people I know. As I was thinking about the stories I have in the works currently, I thought about the people on whom I’ve based characters. There’s that former friend who proved to be selfish in a plethora of ways. There’s my amazing counselor. Given that some of my stories are murder mysteries, I have even created an unsub (unknown subject) based on a friend of mine and one of the sweetest people I have ever met. After all, no one’s going to suspect the quiet, sweet ones. Her victim will be based on the controlling, misogynist husband of a friend of mine. As Anne Lamott states, “If people wanted you to write more warmly about them, they should’ve behaved better.”
I’ll reveal bits and pieces of my writings as I get closer to publication. I’m so excited to kick this journey into full swing!
